The mighty Pillar

Pillar

Height892m (2,927ft)

Prominence348m (1,142ft)

RegionWestern Fells

Climbed4 Times

"Pillar, far from being a spire of slender proportions, is a rugged mass broadly based on half the length of Ennerdale, a series of craggy buttresses supporting the ridge high above this wild north face." — A. Wainwright

Standing as the eighth-highest peak in the Lake District, Pillar dominates the skyline between the Ennerdale and Mosedale valleys. It is the undeniable centerpiece of the famous Mosedale Horseshoe, boasting a wild, fortress-like northern face carved into dramatic crags and imposing stone buttresses.

The mountain takes its name from Pillar Rock, a massive, detached column of stone sprouting from the northern precipice above Ennerdale. Classified as a Nuttall in its own right with 15 metres of prominence, it holds a unique title in British hillwalking: it is the only peak on the Nuttall list that strictly requires a rock climb to gain the summit.

A sunny day on Pillar

In contrast to its precipitous flanks, the main summit of Pillar opens out into a vast, stony plateau. The top features an Ordnance Survey trig pillar, a substantial stone cairn, and a curved windbreak offering sanctuary from the fierce mountain gales that often sweep over the ridge.

Whether taking on the high-level traverse via the Shamrock Traverse, ascending steeply from Wasdale Head, or traversing the high ground on a circuit of the Mosedale Horseshoe, Pillar delivers one of the most rugged and rewarding mountain experiences in Lakeland country.

Trip Reports

Pillar Rock & the Mosedale Horseshoe19/04/2019

The Mosedale Horseshoe24/05/2015

A Tour of Ennerdale19/04/2015

The Mosedale Horseshoe07/04/2012

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